Rotary drill



Nov. 27, 1928.

H. D. BARTHOLOMAE El AL ROTARY DRILL EN TOR.

MAE

HERBERT D. O WILLIAM A. EARTHOLOMAEJR m :4 Zh r 4% a? ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 27, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,693,017 PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT o. RAR'rnoLomAR AND WILLIAM A. BAB'IHOLOMAE, 3a., or LOS enemas,

CALIFORNIA. 1

ROTARY DRILL.

App hcation filed May 11,

This invention relates to earth boring and particularly to an improved method and apparatus for performing this operation more efficiently, with greater accuracy, with less danger of breakage of the apparatus, provides, a means for readily loosening a stuck bit and in general, eliminates many objec tionable features in drilling and provides a great saving in equipment, power and labor.

It is the primary object of our invention to provide an improved method and apparatus of this type.

Our invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, comprises a slip joint adapted to connect two portions of a drill stem at any position therealong. Different types or sizes of bits or consistency of formations encountered require different amounts of weight to be placed upon the drilling bit. The slip joint of our invention holds the two parts of the drill stem against relative rotation, but permits a-limited relative longitudinal movement. thereof. The upper portion of the stem is supported at the surface of the ground. while the portion below the joint rests on the drill bit. Thus, any desired amount of weight can be laced on the drill bit. Where a considerab e portion of the weight of the stem is on the bit, as in the ordinary method of drilling, the bit is crowded with the result that it bears off to one side and forms a crooked hole. The regulating of the weight on the bit as provided in our invention, will result in uniform cuttings in each different formation, elimination of the plunging from hard formation into soft formations, or vice versa, and the preventing of the wandering of the bit from due center. It is a further object of our invention to provide an apparatus of this'type.

Our improved slip joint also embodies a water circulating pipe and a telescopic connection therefor, whereby a circulation can at all times be maintained whatever be the position of the parts thereof. Other numerous-novel features and advantages of our invention will appear as this description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawing, we have illustrated certain specific embodiments of our invention, but it will be understood that the invention can be otherwise embodied and that the drawing is not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the inven- 1926. Serial No. 108 411.

tion, the claims appended to this specification being relied ypon for that purpose.

Referring" to the figures of the drawing:

Figure 1 isa side elevation of a drilling mechanism embodying our invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through our improved slip joint.

Flgures 3, 4 and 5 are cross sectional views through Fig.2 respectively on line TIL-III, IVIV and V-V.

Figurefi is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing a modification thereof.

In the drawing, 1 indicates the casing in a bore 2, drilled by a rotary drill bit 3. The stem of the drill is in two sections 4 and 4*, connected by the slip joint 5 comprised within our invention. The upper stem section 4 is supported at 6 by any convenient means, as the tackle 7. The drill stem is rotated by gearlng 8 in the usual manner. The lower stem section 4 rests on the drill 3.

Our improved slip joint as shown in Figs.

2 to 6, will now be described. This joint.

comprises an upper element 9 havin a screwthreaded socket 10 for receivingt e upper section 4 of the drill stem anda lower element 11 having a threaded end 12 for receiving the lower section 4 of the drill stem. The element 9 has a square opening 13 axially therein throughout most of its length. A plug 14 is threaded into the lower end of this element and this plug is provided with a smaller square opening 15 axially there-' through. The extreme upper end of the element 11 is provided with a square portion 16 slidably fitting within the opening 13 and the intermediate portion 17 conforms to and slidably fits within the opening 15.

A central passage is formed through the stem to the drill in the usual manner by means of a pipe'18 and thisvpipe has communication through our improved slip joint as follows. The pipe 18 extends through a packing 19 and into the opening 13, and from thence into. a central bore through the element 11. As the element 11 moves telescopically within the element 9, the pipe, 18

slides wlthin the bore 20. Grease may be supplied to the openin 13 for lubricating purposes through a va ve 21. An annular groove 22 may be provided around the ele-- ment 9 for aidingin removing the element, should it ever become lost in the hole.

It is believed that the use and operation of our invention will be obvious from the description taken in connection with the accompanyin drawing. The sli joint 5' s placed in t 1e drill stem at the esired position by means of the threaded connections at 10 and 12, this osition depending upon several factors such as the type or size of bit used, construction or fo mation of the soil to be bored etc. Theport n of the stem above the joint 5 is supported by the tackle and the portion 'below t e bit, thus eliminatin crowding of the bit and preventing the bit from bearmg off laterally from due center (the direction of least resistance). The slip joint will therefore allow for the bit to make uniform cuttings in each different formation, eliminate the plunging from hard formations to soft formations, or vice versa, and prevent the wanderlng of the bit from due center.

The slip joint acts as a feeler when running into the hole, thus eliminating the sticking of a new bit (to gauge) in a tight hole and preventing the breaking of elevators or drill pipe and the loss of same by running upon any kind of an obstruction whatever in the hole.

' \Vhen running a casing feeler, before. setting casing, the slip oint can be used as ajar in .the event the casing should become stuck in a tight hole. When the bit gets a ball, the slip joint can be used'as a jar to readily remove the same and eliminate sticking of the pipe to the ball and increasing the drilling efficiency by time saving and rendering the maintenance of circulation more efficient.

The slip'joint acts as a jar when jarring of any kind in the fishing or drilling of a well is advisable and has the advanta e of being a two-way jar, ,being able to jar th up and down. Has the substantial advantage of always being in the drilling string and, in the case of stuck drill pipe or bit, jarring can be done immediately and circulation maintained without interruption. The slip joint acts as a feeler in locating position or location of a fish, without the possibility of dislodging or mutilatin said fish. It also provides for the setting 0 dogs or slip on the fish when the fishing tool is of that design; and, in the cases where the fishing tools are taps or die collars or any kind that is designed to cut or engage threads, b placing the slip joint the required distance above the fishing tool, it will insure good and proper threading and eliminate scalding of threads.

The slip joint eliminates vibration and, in turn, crystallization, by the slide or play takeug in the slip joint, thus preventing twisto s. It maintains a uniform tension on drill stem and bit, allowing for eflicient cutting of hole. It maintains uniform tension on the rotary table, draw works, casing lines, engine, uniform pressure on pumps, saving every part of the equipmentincluding the derrick, and, in turn, saving power and fuel. The cutting edge of the bit will not be abused, thus joint rests on the increasing'thc cutting efliciency, making more hole with each bit, reducing the pull backs for changing bit, with its corresponding saving in equipment, power and labor, resulting ina substantial saving of the operating costs and decreasing the time for making hole.

In case more bearing surface is provided in the slip joint, we may construct the same in the manner shown in Fig. 6. In this construction, the opening 13' may be shorter than the opening 13 in the element 9 and an opening 23 is provided thereupon substantially of the size and configuration of the opening 15'. The element 11 is provided with an extended portion 24 slidably fitting accurately within the opening 23 and having a bore 20' therethrough for the pipe 18. It will be seen that this construction provides the additional bearing surface of the extension 24 in the cooperating opening 23. An additional grease valve may also be provided at 25. Otherwise, the slip joint shown in Fig. 6 is like that shown in Fig. 2, and the like parts thereof are designated in Fig. 6 by like reference characters primed. When the head portion 16 has reached the lower end of the bore 13, the sections 4: above are lowered by releasing the drum 7 Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. A slip joint for connecting two'portions of an earth boring drill stem comprising an element having an axial polygonal opening therein, an element having a cooperating polygonal portion slidably and non-rotatably tting within the opening, the two elements being non-rotatable relatively but havin a relative axial movement, stop means limiting such movement to prevent separation of the elements, and a pipe extending through one element into the joint and having a sliding telescopic connection with a bore through the other element.

2. A slip joint for connecting two portions of an earth boring drill stem comprising an element having an axial polygonal opening therein of difl'erent cross sectional diameters, an element having a cooperating polygonal portion provided with an enlargement having a polygonal formation adapted to conform with the polygonal shape of said opening and slidably engage the walls of the larger diameter of the latter to maintain the element below the enlargement out of engagement with the walls of the opening, the portion of said latter element above said enlargement working in the smaller diameter of the opening above the enlargement and relatively close to the walls of the latter, whereby said two elements have axial movement with relation to each other, said enlargement of the second mentioned element forming a stop to limit the axial movement of said elements to prevent separation of the same.

3. A slip joint for connecting two portions a central Ion itudinally ements having relatively axial longitudinally into the bore' of the firstmentioned element and having a 10 sliding telescopic connection with said bore of the second mentioned element, and a valve device having communication with said opening of the first mentioned element whereby to permit the supply oigrease to said opening 15 of said first element.

HERBERT D. BARTHOLOMAE. WILLIAMA. BARTHOLOMAE, J R. 

